Shipping costs from Asia to the US keep climbing, which is good news for container shipping lines but adds cost pressure for importers.

• The main Shanghai export shipping rate index rose again this week, its fourth straight weekly gain.
• Rates to the US West Coast and US East Coast both went up, with the East Coast leading.
• Rates to Europe and the Mediterranean fell, so the strength is mostly on US routes.
• Southeast Asia routes jumped the most, up about 8% in a week.
• Trouble in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz is keeping ships on longer routes and holding rates high.

Outlook: Rates are expected to stay strong through the summer peak season, and even if they ease later this year, a sharp collapse looks unlikely unless the shipping-lane disruptions clear up.